Protective device for scales



Dec} 1932- s. E. CHATILLON 4 PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR SCALES Filed Feb. 17.1928 INVENTOR p3? GEORGE [.CHATILLON BY MI TORNEY Patented Dec. 6, 1932UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE E. OEL'H'LLON, OI NEW YORK, I. YASSIGNOB '10 JOHN CELTII LON' 6; SONS,

O! m YORK, I. Y, A OOBIOBA'IIOH OF NEW YORK PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOB SCALESApplication filed Iebraary 17, 1928. Serial No. 255,118.

This invention relates to means for preventing damage to the indicatinmechanism of scales, dynamometers, spring alances and the like, whenloads are suddenly applied thereto.

In such devices, the runner hasbeen generally directly connected to thepointer through the intermediary of a rack connected to the runner andmeshing with a pinion m on the pointer shaft and if a load is suddem ldum ed into the scale pan, or onto the platfYJrm, t e teeth on the rackand pinion often become stripped and the ointer bent.

In order to avoid this amage and in accordance with the invention, therack is not directl connected to the runner but merely rests thereon inthe no load position of the runner. The rack is provided with inertiameans for retardin its downward movement 20 so that when a loa is dumpedonto the platform and the runner moves suddenly downward the rack lagsbehind the runner and moves downward at a much slowerv rate so that therack will not be affected by the spring 35 vibrations. To moredefinitely control its downward movement the rack maybe connectedto adash 0t mechanism.

A preferred orm of the invention is illustrated in the drawing of which,p

30 Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a scale casing with the dial plate cutaway, and

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

As illustrated, the scale comprises a frame 35 having side bars and 11,to and bottom bars 12 and 13, and an interme iate cross bar 14. To thefront'of the frame is fastened a dial late 15 with graduations 16 on itsperip ery, over whic a pointer 17 swings.

49 The pointer is mounted on a shaft 18, journalled on the cross bar 14,and provided with a pinion 19.

Engaging the pinion 19 is a rack 20, the up er end of which is givotallyconnected to 45 a amper piston 21, sli able in a cylinder 22 attached tothe top bar 12 of the frame. The lower end of the rack is provided witha curved seat or recess and has attached thereto, near the bottom, aweight 24. The curved seat is adapted to bear against a'correspondingprojecting portion 23, on the upper end of a movable runner 25. Thisrunner is connected to a rod 26, extending down through the tubularpedestal 27 of the scale and connected either to a scale pan or to asystem of levers associated with a platform not shown.

The upper end of the runner is provided with oppositely extendin arms 28and 29, to which the lower ends 0 springs 30 and 31 are fastened. Theupper ends of these springs are connected to threaded stems 32 and 33,adjusted by means of nuts 34 and 35 on the ends of fiat springsupporting members 36 and 37 fastened to the scale frame or casing.These stems 32 and 33 may, on the other hand, be connected directly tothe top bar 12 of the scale frame or casing.

Adjacent the pinion 19, rack 20 slides between spaced pairs ofoppositely disposed arms, such as 38 and 39 on a. plate 40 which isfastened to the cross bar 14. This guiding element 40 is provided with aspring 41 which bears against the rear face of the rack 20 to hold itagainst the pinion 19.

In the operation of the device, when a load is suddenly applied to thescale, the runner 25 moves downward suddenly. The inertia of the weight24 and the retarding action of the dashpot mechanism will cause the rack20 immediately to separate from the runner 25. The runner, due to thevibratory action of the load springs, will vibrate wlth decreasingamplitude until it finally comes to rest. The downward movement of therack 20 is designed, through the weight 24 and the action of the dashpotmechanism, so that for any particular load springs employed in the scalethe rack will not re-engage with the runner until the runner has come torest. In this manner a sudden downward jerk of the 90 and runner havingcooperatin runner does not afl'ect the rack and the upward vibrations ofthe runner while it is m vglriatory motion will likewise not afiectthe 1. In a scale, a runner, a vertically movable viactnatedrackrestingthereon atno ird, e rack runner freely separable onthe application of loa and means on the rack controlling said rackmovement.

2. In a scale, a runner, a verticallymovable gravity actuated rackresting thereon at 'nol therackandrunnerbeingfreelsepara e on the aplication of load and the rack being ads to follow the runner afterseparation, an means on the rack controlling said rack movement.

3. Inascale,arunner,avert1call movable rack resting thereon at no load,e rack and runner being freely separable on the application of load,means moving the r when separated from the runner, and means controllingsaid rack movement, the rack end means to e runner as do and positionthe rack on 6 any, 4 In a scale, a runner, a vertically movable gravityactuated rack resting thereon at indeed, the rack and runner beingfreely separable on the application of load and the rack being adaptedto follow the runner after separation, and means controlling sald rackmovement, the rack end and the runner havm ing cooperating means toguide and position the rack on the runner as they reengage.

5. In a scale, a runner, a verticall movable rack resting thereon at noload, e rack and runner being freely separable on the ap 48 lication ofload, means moving the rack ownward when separated from the runner, therack end and the runner having cooperating means to guide and podtionthe rack on the runner as they 50 6. In a scaleia runner, a vcallymovable rack nestin ereon at no load, the rack and runner freelyseparable on the aplication of loa a weight on the rack below its centerto move it downward when separated from the runner, the rack and runnerhaving a cooperating notch and rejection on their adjacent end's'to 'deamfposition the rack on the runner as t ey re-engage.

*7. In a scale, a pointer, a runner, a vertically movablerack normallyin contact with the runner at no load, means on the rack substantialmertia to cause said ag behind the runner on sudden downward movement ofthe runner and to move downward by gravity independent of y ionmeshingwithe runner until contact is restored, and means ,connected to said rackto prevent reengagement with the runner until the runner actuating saidinion, a runner normally in contact with said rack at no load and meanson said rack possessing substantial inertia to cause said rack to lagbehind the runner on sudden downward movement of the runner and to. movedownwardly by avity and independent of the rimner untif contact isrestored and means to prevent the Mn ment of the rack with the runner une runner has come to rest.

- 9. In a scale, a runner, a vertically movable rack restin thereon atno load, a pinsaid rack, a weight on said rack below said pinion andmeans connected to the rack to retard its downward movement in a atedmanner.

10. a scale, a runner, a vertically mov. able rack rest thereon at noload, a pinion meshing with said rack a weight on said rack below saidpinion, dash t means connected to the rack to retard its ownwardmovement, said weight and said dashpot means adapted to preventre-engagement of the rack with the runner until the runner has come torest under the influence of the load.

11. In a scale, a runner, a vertically movable rack resting thereon atno load, a pinion meshing with said rack a weight on said rack belowsaid pinion, dash t means connected to the rack to retard its ownwardmovemetnati said weight and said dashpot means adap to preventre-engagement of the rack with the runner until the runner has come torest under the influence of the load, said rack and runner having acooperating notch d projection on thelradj acent ends to facilitate thepositioning of the rack and runner as they rewith said rack to retar thedownward movement of the rack in a definite manner when the runner movesdownwardly under sudden application of a load. v

4. In a scale, a runner, a pointer actuating rack resting on the runnerbut separable therefrom when the rimner moves downwardly upon the suddenapplication of a load, and dash t means to prevent reengagement oif; 1tleiatra with the runner until therunner is a 4 15. In a scale, apointer, a runner, a vertically movable rack normally in contact withthe runner at no load, dashpot means asso-

